Brush, floss, rinse and repeat. When it comes to daily dental care, healthy oral habits are essential. Here are a few teeth cleaning tips to begin adopting daily to maintain a healthy smile, while decreasing the risk of gum disease, bad breath and cavities.
White smiles aren’t created overnight. Start with small specific changes in the tooth brushing routine. Bacteria forms daily at the gum line and surface of teeth. Set a timer, or play your favorite song and brush the gum line and front and back of tooth surfaces for a 2 to 3-minute duration at least twice daily.
Keep in mind, your toothbrush cannot reach all crevices. Prevent cavities, gum disease and infection by cleaning between teeth with a good floss before bed to reach all the places the toothbrush missed. A common misconception is flossing hurts, but with the proper technique and tools, flossing teeth is simpler than you think. Choose an 18 to 24-inch piece of multi-protection floss, pulled at a length from fingertips to elbow. Wind most of the floss around your middle finger of one hand, then using your thumbs and index finger, grip the floss and gently glide it between teeth, rubbing against both sides of each tooth. As you move from tooth to tooth make sure you are gripping a fresh section of floss to avoid plaque transfer between other teeth.
Bored with the typical dental string? Pick an interdental cleaning tool you are most comfortable with. From oral irrigators to wooden toothpicks, plastic floss picks or interdental brushes, there are several flossing options available. Finish with a 30 second swish of antiseptic mouthwash to kill germs that cause bad breath and help control plaque that leads to gingivitis.
An improved daily dental care routine is only the first step for maintaining a healthy mouth. Keeping a consistent six-month check-up and professional dental cleaning routine with a professional dental hygienist is imperative. Schedule an appointment at Three Rivers Dental today to get started on improving the look and feel of your teeth. We are conveniently located throughout the Pittsburgh area in Greentree, Cranberry, and Greensburg.